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2026 Best Value Special Education Schools in Montana

[Special Education](/majors/education/special-education/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.

For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 4 schools to find the best return on investment for special education students.

What’s on this page:

• Best Value Special Education Schools in Montana

2026 Best Value Special Education Schools in Montana

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in special education, balancing cost against outcomes.

Best Value Special Education Schools

1

Montana State University Billings
Billings, MT

$7,280 In-State Tuition & Fees

$25,465 Avg Student Debt

$44,296 Median Earnings (10yr)

Montana State University Billings tops our 2026 list of the best value special education schools in Montana. Located in the city of Billings, Montana State University Billings is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,280, compared with $22,897 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,465 to complete the special education program here. Early-career special education graduates make about $48,764. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

2

The University Of Montana Western
Dillon, MT

$6,669 In-State Tuition & Fees

$22,484 Avg Student Debt

$43,229 Median Earnings (10yr)

The strong cost-to-outcome balance at The University Of Montana Western earned it the #2 place for special education. The University Of Montana Western is a small public school located in the town of Dillon. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,669, with out-of-state students paying around $20,130. Special Education graduates carry a median of $22,484 in student loans. Special Education graduates of The University Of Montana Western earn a median of $36,924 early in their careers. Set against $22,484 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 100%.

View All Special Education Rankings >

Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 4 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 ranked schools only.

• The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
• Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).

More about our data sources and methodologies.